.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily observe him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the crew since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa Gulf Buccaneers created very early that Thursday evening's game will be an offensive slugfest along with both crews scoring goals on their first things, so it appeared suitable the NFC South face-off would certainly be decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gone into the competition after an accident to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in law pushed overtime, and also Cousins looked after the remainder as he specified a franchise business file with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his fifth consent passing touchdown in the final minute of regulation/OT in the final five periods, which is one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between making the playoffs and not, between gaining a department and not, depends on video games like this one, and also Atlanta georgia has already had its own reveal of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the final minute of the 4th one-fourth in each 3 of their wins this period. They are the first team in NFL past to have three success within their first 5 games of a time in which they trailed in the final moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with impressive back-to-back gain New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta ga has an early top in the NFC South because of sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That might verify critical in December and January in what appears to be a limited division.QB malfunction: Cousins appeared healthy and balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has actually tossed for 350 yards and also three touchdowns in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be prevalent when he deals with Tampa bay Gulf-- 3 of his four profession 100-yard activities have arrived against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally grabbed his very first touchdown against Tampa bay Gulf in the initial quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney continues to appear additional like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate 2 seasons with the Bears. He possessed his very first game along with numerous touchdown gets-- in 2021 he possessed a game along with a rushing and obtaining goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 backyards are both close to occupation highs for him. He performed have pair of declines, having said that, featuring one that can possess verified costly.Most astonishing performance: A full week after certainly not capturing a successfully pass against New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts invested his greatest statistical game in almost a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more emerging as portion of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches as well as lawns are his most because Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal celebration, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the team to beat in the NFC South, despite Tampa winning the division recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, using it right now being actually a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of players it needs to acquire healthy and balanced, and it has 9 days to do it. The Bucs must know how to complete, though, along with the offense fully stymied in the 2nd one-half and also inadequate tackling on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, three goals-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the very first fifty percent. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first one-half, along with all 3 touchdowns coming versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals through the 1st 5 video games are a career best.But after the significant initial fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly carried out anything in the 2nd fifty percent through the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategic plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on wounded reserve with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 gardens of overall affront. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in terms of overlooked tackles yet resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their most in a video game since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).